Hydroelectric treatment plant with air supply



Patented Dec. 25, 1951 OFFICE HYDROELECTRIC TREATMENT PLANT WITH AIR SUPPLY Fred Landauer, Rockville Centre, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1947, Serial No. 781,123

' 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to electro-therapeutic treatment plants and more particularly to a plant or apparatus for hydro-electric treatments of certain ailments, such as rheumatic and related conditions.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my U. S. application Ser. No. 530,633, filed April 12, 1944, now abandoned.

The present application differs insofar from said abandoned application in that it contemplates the establishment of an electric current flow between two electrodes while the thereby obtained electric field is simultaneously subjected to the influence of a fluid or'gas stream directed substantially transversely to said electric field.

The therapeutic effect of an electrically charged bath on parts of the human body immersed therein may be brought about by thermal action which improves blood circulation by heating the tissues; by physiological action through stimulation of the nerve cells; and by chemical action through the introduction of a medicinal agent into the I bloodstream. The efllciency of the treatment depends not only on the magnitude but also on the nature of the electric current employed. Thus, in the case of alternating or pulsating current, the stimulating effect on the nerve cells will generally dominate, whereas a direct current will produce better chemical results. As the current passes from one electrode to the other through the bath liquid and the body or body part to be treated, there will be an intense change of ions and electrons at the contact surfaces of the liquid and those areas of the skin which lie intermediate the electrodes immersed in the water or other bath liquid. However, it will not be possible for all portions of a body immersed in the liquid to get the full beneflt of the treatment. It has been found that the above disadvantages may be overcome and the therapeutic efiect of the hydro-electric bath increased by modifying the distribution of electrical-charges in the liquid through the use of what may be termed, in analogy with thermal processes, ,electricalconvection. The method used to obtain this effect may comprise the steps of isolating charged particles of the bath liquid (e. g. water) by means of a gas stream (e. g. air) and utilizing said gas stream to convey the charged particles to points of different electrical potential where they may alter the electrical condition of the bath or impinge directly and locally upon the immersed body part. 2

It is, therefore, an object, of the present invention to provide means for obtaining improved therapeutic effects of 'a hydro-electric bath by introducing into the bath liquid a fluid stream which may be continuously or intermittently produced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for simultaneously producing an electric current flow as well as a fluid flow or stream within the bath liquid to thereby enhance the treatment conditions of the hydro-electric bath.

It is another object of the invention to provide means for combining the effects of a direct current with those of a pulsating Or alternating current in a hydro-electric bath.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide nerve-stimulating elec tro-mechanical action at the'surface of the skin of an immersed body or body part while at the same time subjecting the underlyin tissues to the effects of a mainly uni-directional current.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method of enhancing the electro-chemical treatment efiect upon an object immersed in a conductive liquid and exposed to the action of electric current passing through said liquid.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide method and means for influencing the electrical conditions prevalent between conductors immersed in a conductive liquid bath prefer ably containing a chemical, by the introduction of a stream of a substantially electrically non-conductive fluid which is directed angularly with respect to the flow of the electric current between said conductors. f

The above and other objects and advantages may be best understood from the accompanying drawing and the'following disclosure which sets forth how the invention may be carried out, and it is further intended that there be included as part of the invention all such obvious changes and modifications thereof as would occur to a person skilled in the art to which this invention-pertains and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates an apparatus by which the invention may be carried into effect;

Fig. 2 shows a modification of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 represents a further modification of the apparatusor treatment plant embodying the iinvention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a vesselor tank ID of containing a medicinal agent, is placed in tank H! to a level well above the top of the electrodes I], I2. As a support for the body or body partsstrrber treated and as a protection therefor from direct contact with electrodes II and -I 2;there-i's-sus pended from the rim IGc of tank Ill'ashield or rest means H which may be made of insulating material.

Mounted on the bottom of the tank IE! is a swivel head. oriniect-ing means It which serves tofintroduceafluid, for instance-in form of a gas, intothe tank, said= injecting means being; con nectedto a suitablepump: or blower (not. shown) by way of conduit means, such as a pipe- I9. In iecting: means It terminates into two nozzles 20, pivoted. about an. axis 21: (:as indicated by arrows) for the supply of said fluid. passing through; pipe [9: for discharge transversely to the electric current flow when. established between electrodes II and I2 and through the bath liquid It. This fluid may consist of air: or. like'medium, and will risein' theform of: twosubstantially conical streamss Ilia, IBb from: the discharge nozzles 28 toward the surfaceofili'quid. I6.

The: introduction or injection of. the gaseous fiuid into" the liquid. I6 will give: rise to. the fol;- lowingphenomenonr Isolated water: particles entrained: by the air stream on its? passagethrough the liquid will becharged with. a polarity corresponding to that of the nearer of the two electrodes (e. g. I2) and will be attracted toward the opposite" electrode (e g. II) Whilebeing car'- ried and displaced in upward direction by the air stream. The cage or shield I"I of insulating material will not altermaterially the course of these particles which subsequently impinge upon the limb or'body part (not shown) which rests'on the cage IT and is. held at substantially ground potential. Theimpingement of these particles upon the skin of" the patient will not only result in a mechanical massaging action, but will also have the stimulating effect of many small. electric ch'argesentering" and leaving the body at locally distributed points. By suitably adjusting the twodischarge nozzles the two airstreams; respectively, discharged. thereby may be caused to overlap in such manner that their effect will be greatest on those areas which get the least benefit from the direct current passing between electrodes I I and I2..

In the embodimentsof Figs, 2 and Si in; which elements? corresponding to certain parts in. Fig; 1 have. been indicated bythe same: reference numerals, the head or injecting means. t8 has: been replaced by an agitator 22 of: which. only the lower part is shown in Fig. 2, the complete device being illustrated'inFig; 3, A turbine housing 23 provided at the bottom of a pipe 24 has an intake opening at 25 and a discharge op'ening at 26. An impeller wheel (not shown) is disposed within thehousing 23 and is driven from a motor 21 by means of a shaft extending within the pipe: 24;

An ai'r'tube 28" extendsabove the" level of liquid I6 and has its outlet positioned in front of the discharge opening 26, the air'being entrained by the liquid which is set in motion through the impeller wheel and issues at 26 from the housing 23. An air stream is thus created which carries with it occluded or isolated water particles charged with the polarity of electrode I2, these particles tending toward electrode II while travellingwith the air strearm alongta predetermined, arcuate path I6c'towardtlie'surface of the liquid. Somewhere along this path the electrically charged particles are likely to encounter the immersed body or body parts upon which Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, it

- wi1l-.be seen=thatprotective cage IT has been replaced by two perforated guard members or shieldsd 39 which may be of metal since they are neither in contact with the electrodes II, I2 nor interposed. in the path: of the; airstream. I-hevessel I9. isiormedwith anla-nnular extension 3-1I IestingupOn the-rimlof an-outer tank 32+which is spaced from tank I01. The interior'of vessel It communicates with theouter tankv 32 by way of an overflow opening 33', tank 32 being, provided with a drain 34 through whichexcessl-iquidxfrom the inner tank It may be'removed.v A plug35 covers a drain: hole; 36.- inzthet bottom of vessel z I 0 The outer? tank 3-2 isfurther eqp-ippedwith. an outlet nipple 31 which, combination with: drain 3 5 permits the circulation: of hot water or the like within the: space. between tank 3-2 and: tank It: whereby the liquid. I-Il-ma-y'babeld; at asuit-:- ably' elevated temperature;

The. motor 21' is carried on. a; bracketv 38: secured by means of; a; set. screw 39- to: a. rod 4 0 which is pivoted. at H on a. standard; 42*. Standard 42 is slidably held in: a sleeve 4.3 and may be shaped to'proyidel'arackf-or cooperation with apiniorr. (not shown), the latter being operable by meansof: a crank 44 for the purpose of raising and; lowering the: agitator" 22* within: the tank It. Thus,- it will not only be possible to vary theoperative position. of. housingv 23: in a vertical direction, but also toswing; the entire device 22 about its pivot 4I into aninoperative position, as indicated: in; dot-dash lines.

The unit comprisingmotorilr, agitator 22' and tube 28' may also be mounted on-a separate carrier (not shown) positioned. outside of) tankv 32 for insertiontherein and for displacement there.- to.

The invention is also applicable .to other. fields of the industry where" it is desired to: changeor influence the electro -chemical treatment which results from the employment of two electrical conductors immersed in a. conductive bath liquid by the introduction of a fluid flow of: non-conducttivecharacter into-said bathliquid at.a predermined. angle. with respect to thecurren-t flow establishedtbetweensaid:conductors:

It can thus; be; seen: that there haslbeenpro.- vided in accordance: with this invention; an; electro-therapeutic' treatment plant comprising, a vessel adaptedzto hold a liquid, a2 pairof electrodes extending along oppositewalls ofsaid vestsel in a position as to be completely immersed in said liquid; a source of electric current forv supplying current to said electrodes whereby a flow of electric current may be established through said liquid, perforated screen means-supported on said; vessel and adapted. to: form a. rest fora body part when disposed between said electrodes within said liquidlamtadistributoriheadi disposed liquid in substantially upward direction and transversely to said electric current flow.

While there have been shown, described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the above embodiment, it will be understood that various substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of modifying the distribution of electrical charges in a bath liquid containing electrodes of opposed polarities which method consists in introducing a substantially non-conductive gaseous fluid stream into the bath liquid and at a location intermediate said electrodes, causing said fluid stream to isolate electrically charged particles of said liquid, and directing said filuid stream to convey said charged particles to points within said bath liquid having a potential different from that of said particles.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said fluid stream is directed onto a body part immersed in said bath liquid for therapeutic treatment.

3. The combination, in an electro-therapeutic treatment apparatus, of spaced apart electrodes adapted to be connected to an electric circuit and to have opposed polarities and adapted for contact with a treatment liquid, with gas injecting means positioned intermediate said electrodes and adapted to inject gaseous fluid into said liquid whereby said gaseous fluid is adapted to isolate electrically charged particles of said liquid,

i a vessel containing said electrodes and said fluid injecting means, and rest means supported by said vessel and defining a space in said vessel for accommodating a body member to be treated, said rest means extending a predetermined distance into said vessel between said electrodes.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said injecting means is spaced from said rest means and arranged below the latter.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said injecting means is provided with adjustable nozzle means facilitating change of direction of the flow of gaseous fluid within the liquid contained in said vessel.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said injecting means is positioned intermediate one of said electrodes and said rest means.

7. An electric treatment apparatus comprising a vessel adapted to contain a treatment liquid, a pair of electrodes within said vessel, said electrodes being adapted to establish an electric current flow within said liquid and being spaced from each other a sufficient distance to accommodate a body part for treatment therebetween, gas discharge means arranged within said vessel intermediate said electrodes and adapted to direct a gas stream within said liquid transversely to said electric current flow, and shield means located in front of said electrodes and adapted to prevent said body part from contact with an electrode.

FRED LANDAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 40 2,091,167 Solley Aug. 24, 1937 2,240,504 Landauer May 6, 1941 2,347,915 Landauer May 2, 1944 2,420,669 Landauer May 20, 1947 

